Laundry drier and control therefor



J. ROSENBERG LAUNDRY DRIER AND CONTROL THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8,1962 Filed Aug. 2, 1960 a i I 163 T '1 x E f o INVENTOR.

JOSEPH ROSENBERG BY {I g g ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 J. ROSENBERG LAUNDRYDRIER AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 2, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJOSEPH ROSENBERG ATTORN EY May 8, 1962 J. ROSENBERG LAUNDRY DRIER ANDCONTROL THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1960 anew-ac.

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH ROSENBERG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. ROSENBERG LAUNDRY DRIER AND CONTROLTHEREFOR H O V.

RELAY TUMBLER MOTOR May 8, 1962 Filed Aug. 2,

2 S 1 D MR I AME 5 R H F h M 0 I K. MLC O 1 5 A0 G TT f R T7 2 4MLHN o 3ERH 1 A9 8 R C IR U HE 7 L T SE M w s u mm RMW 5 \U S DE WVQWv w Y 6 OWw 0 E s I M f M R 4 E m R 7 E m 5 mo TM w m 5 6 6 V.- 8 AV 6 5 HE R 9 45 6 too 1 G |l I... [I'll m G T H NY. NH SKWNW Z 3 RC IA POC U T OT DLOT T AA 3 3 3 MSW MM aw 4 4 4 ,2 S H SB 5 E m S 4 L y 5* 52 INVENTORVlSUAL JOSEPH ROSENBERG RM ALA FIG.7 BY

ATTORNEY 3,033,546 Patented May 8, 1962 3,633,546 LAUNDRY DRIER ANDCQNTRGL THEREFGR Joseph Rosenberg, 2450 Harrison St, San Francisco,(Calif. Filed Aug. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 47,076 4 Claims. (til. 263-33) Theinvention, in general, relates to the laundry art and more particularlyrelates to an improved laundry drier of the tumbler type having aself-unloading feature and incorporating unique control means forregulating the thorough drying of a tumbler load or, as desired, forpreconditioning a tumbler load for subsequent finishing operations, suchas pressing or smoothing in a mangle or like apparatus.

While in recent years considerable attention has been devoted toimproving commercial-type laundry drying equipment wherein heavy volumesof laundry are handled daily, the improvements have largely been madeonly with respect to structural and mechanical elements of the equipmentand, in the main, have been directed towards combinations forfacilitating the loading and unloading of the equipment. Littleattention has been devoted in the past to the provision of automaticallyoperable control means for insuring a thorough drying of the laundry, orto effect the reduction of the moisture content of the laundry articlesto a desired extent in order that subsequent finishing operations may becarried on efiectively. The present invention is directed to theprovision of improved control means for laundry driers which areautomatically operable during the drying intervals or periods, as wellas improved unique features for unloading the drier at the terminationof drying.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedlaundry drier and control means therefor whereby either a thoroughdrying of tumbler loads or a partial drying thereof as desired can beautomatically accomplished in a minimum of drying time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedlaundry drier of the aforementioned character which embodiesautomatically operable electromechanical control means for not onlyregulating the volume of fuel supplied to the heater of the systemthereby tending to maintain a constant drying temperature to effectuniform drying of loads but also embodies compensating means for heatsurges or other temperature variations during the drying period that mayoccur irregularly.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageousfeatures thereof, will appear from the following description of apreferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that I am not tobe limited to the precise embodiments shown, nor to the precisearrangement of the various parts and elements thereof, as my invention,as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality andvariety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side perspective view of a preferred embodimentof the invention, this view showing the discharging of dried laundryinto a portable receptacle.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of thecontrol lines and apparatus for regulating the burner of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in transverse section and partly in topfragmentary plan, of certain of the elements of the preferred embodimentof the invention, this view illustrating the motion of the dried laundryitems upon discharge from the equipment into the portable receptacle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view, parts also being shown infragmentary side elevation, of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, this view showing the direction of movement of the heated andexhaust gases during drying operations. 7 1

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational veiw of certain temperature controlelements of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, partly in fragmentary showing, of apreferred embodiment of the invention with both loading and dischargedoors in open positions.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuitassociated with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail of a pressure-responsive mechanical elementassociated with a time-delay unit contained in the electrical circuit ofthe control systemincorporated with the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In its preferred form, my improved laundry drier and control meanstherefor, including unique laundry unloading means, preferably comprisesa rotatably mounted tumbler for holding laundry items to be dried, acasing surrounding said tumbler and having a hingedly mounted door ordoors thereon for loading and unloading said tumbler, heater and blowermeans for causing heated gases to circulate through laundry itemscontained in said tumbler, an exhaust flue conencted to said heater andblower means for carrying off heated gases containing moisture ofevaporation, together with an electrical circuit containing means forrotating said tumbler in both directions of rotation, at time-delayunit, as well as an automatically operable switch controlling saidtime-delay unit, and a fuel feed line connected to said heater means, aflow-regulator valve in said feed line, a temperatureresponsive elementmounted in said flue and controlling said valve, and a pressuretransmission line leading from said feed line and pneumaticallycontrolling said auto matically operable switch whereby not only theflow of fuel to said heater means but also the elapsed time ofdryingoperations is automatically regulated.

While the temperature-responsive element as well as associated membersof the electrical control, hereinafter described, have been devisedprimarily in combination with a laundry dryer and have beensatisfactorily utilized in such environment, the said element andcontrol are equally applicable to any industrial or commercial systemwherein moisture-laden gases are exhausted so that op erating units ofany such system are suitably regulated by said temperature-responsiveelement and said electrical as well as pneumatic control as to timeinterval of operation as well as with respect to temperature operatingconditions.

In accordance with the present invention and as particularly illustratedin FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, of the annexed drawings, my improved laundrydryer includes a rotatably mounted tumbler, which is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 11, arranged within a casing 12which is supported on a suitable framework 13 that may be made in anydesired structural form. The tumbler 11 preferably comprises aforaminate cylindrical wall 14 closed at the rear by an imperforate wall16 but entirely open at the front for the reception as well as thedischarge of a load of laundry articles; the open front of the tumblercommunicating with the exterior of the casing conveniently through adoor 17 or, if desired, through a pair of casing doors 17 and 18 whichmay be hingedly secured on the front wall 19 of casing 12. As shown, theentire tumbler 11 is slightly spaced from the various walls of thecasing so that free circulation of air and gas currents may be had atall times. Rear wall 16 of the tumbler supports a hub 21 whichconstitutes a trunnion 22 in which is keyed a shaft 23. The shaft 23 isplaced in driving connection by means of a sprocket and chain drive 24with the shaft of a suitable reversing motor 25, for transmitting rotarymovement in both directions of rotation to tumbler 11. While not shownin the drawings, an overdrive may be combined with the reversingmotor-for rotating the tumbler at increased speeds, when desired. Asshown in FIG. 4, the outer periphery of the tumbler 11 engages andreceives additional rotative support from a series of rollers 26 and 27journaled in brackets 28 and 29, respectively, which extend inwardlyfrom the framework 13 to project the rollers through the lower wall ofcasing 12; the tumbler being rotated both clockwise andcounter-clockwise, as indicated by the double arrow 30 in FIG. 4, duringall drying operations.

In order to effect the drying of articles placed in the tumbler 11 tothe extent desired and within a minimum of time, I not only providemeans for circulating heated air through and about the articles withinthe tumbler 11 but also provide control means for automaticallyregulating the temperaure of the drying air, the control means tendingto maintain the operating temperature substantially constant at arelatively low value and, by the same function, tending to keep thequantity of fuel supplied to the burner of the system at a minimum;these control means also affording the automatic shutting-down of dryingoperations when the articles have been dried to a predetermined extent.The means for circulating heated air through the articles of laundrypreferably comprise a gas heater, although other conventional heatermeans can be employed as desired, and a cooperating suction system; saidmeans including a source, not shown, of natural gas or other fuel, whichis fed to a valve-controlled burner 31, together with a suction fan 32,driven by a suitable motor 32 with which is associated a stationary,vertical take-off stack 33 for releasing spent air to the atmosphere.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, 4 and 6, the casing 12 is supported in anupright, stationary position and is provided with an outlet 34 in thebottom thereof which communicates with an outlet flue 35 supported inhorizontal position and in communication with the stack 33. Fan 32 drawsair from the exterior of the casing 12 into and through a passagedefined by a housing 36 which is supported on the casing 12 with itsinlet 36a overlying the burner 31; the heated air currents following thepath indicated by the small arrows 37 and entering the casing 12 at thetop thereof'to pass through and about the tumbler 11. Thereafter, theheated air which has become moisture-laden by reason of drawing outmoisture from the wet laundry items in tumbler 11, passes out of thecasing 12 through bottom outlet 34 and thence through the flue 35 andout of the stack 33. Due to the spacing between the tumbler 11 and thecasing 12, as well as to the perforations in the cylindrical wall 14 ofthe tumbler, the heated air is drawn through the perforations and aroundthe tumbler 11 so as intimately to contact all of the laundry itmesdisposed in the tumbler; such items being continuously tumbled aboutduring the rotation of the tumbler and all portions thereof beingsubjected to the heated air with the result that the drying action iscarried out relatively rapidly.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide electro-mechanicalmeans for regulating all operations of my improved laundry drier,including the operation of safety elements associated therewith in orderthat the likelihood of damage to equipment by reason of fire or othercause, as well as possible injuries to equipment is reduced to aminimum. These control means include a main electrical circuit which canreceive its energy from a source of 110 volt 60 cycle alternatingcurrent through main conductors X and Y as well as through an auxiliarygroup of conductors hereinafter described and as more particularlyillustrated in FIG. 7 of the annexed drawings, for effecting theoperation and control of reversing motor 25 which drives the tumbler 11.A starter switch 4-2, preferably of the push-button type connects intothe electrical circuit upon being depressed, per FIG. 7, whereupon thesupplied energy effects the energization of a holding coil 43 in thecircuit to effect the closing of related switches as hereinafterexplained; the relay or holding coil 43 remaining energized until theexpiration of a predetermined time interval and completion of the dryingof laundry itemsrfed to the dryer to an extent desired.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 7 the relay 43 is connected throughstarting button 42 and a stop button 44 to conductor X, and through wire56 as well as thermal protective relay contacts 45 to conductor Y. Therelay 43 automatically controls the operation of a series of switches43-1; 43-2; 43-3; and 43-4, by closing the first three mentioned andopening the latter, which are connected into auxiliary circuits foroperating various units of the drier; switch 43-4 being so arranged inthe circuit that it remains, open until the completion of dryingoperations when it closes, while switches 43-1; 43-"; and 43-3 are heldclosed by the holding coil 43 until the completion of a drying cycle atwhich time they all open. Switch 43-4 is connected across mainconductors x and y into an alarm circuit, which may include either avisual or an audible alarm device; such alarm circuit having conductor50 leading from one contact of the switch 43-4 to a contact of an alarmdevice 51, which in the embodiment shown is a visual type alarm, andfrom the other contact of the alarm device to the line Y over conductor52. The switch 43-1 is connected across main conductors X and Y into acircuit including a line 53 and a standard reversing timer switch 54 andmagnetic starter 55 therefor, both shown in elementary form only.Magnetic starter 55 controls the rotation of tumbler 11 by starting,stopping and reversing the tumbler actuating motor 25. The switch 43-2is connected across main conductors X and Y and to a contactor coil 57,by means of a conductor 58, which controls the operation of the suctionfan '32 by starting and stopping the fan motor 32' which is mechanicallyconnected to the coil 57 through a coil-actuated switch 57-1 by anelectrical conductor 58; this auxiliary circuit preferably beingcompleted from the solenoid or coil 57 through thermal overload switches57-2 to the main conductor Y. Switch 43-3 is connected across mainconductors X and Y over lead 65' to one connection of a solenoid 65 of asolenoidactuated cut-off valve 66 which is interposed in the fuel feedline of the drier so that upon completion of a drying cycle andautomatic opening of relay 43, the valve 66 is closed to shut off fuelflow to the burner 31; the other contact of solenoid 65 being connectedoverload 66' to line Y. A door switch 46 is connected in series with theholding coil or relay 43 so that its contacts open whenever the door ordoors of the casing 12 open, thus deenergizing the relay 43 and openingthe entire circuit.

Switch 43-3 is also connected to a pressure-sensitive sensing elementincluding a single-pole switch 69 and a delay element 6h. Switch 69 isnormally open during the drying cycle but closes on decrease in pressureof fuel in burner 31 as more fully described below. Delay element 60 maybe thermal, electronic, pneumatic, or other type, and is here shown as athermal element which is heated by passage of current.

Over-temperature switch 48, which may be a standard stack-temperatureswitch and which is not otherwise shown, and contacts 57-1, which arecontacts on fan starter 57, are connected in series in the electricalcircuit with the contacts of switch 61 so that the opening of switch 48,or of the switch 61, which is responsive to the action of the delayelement 60, or of the contacts 57-1, will break the path of current tothe coil or relay 43 thereby extinguishing the burner as well asstopping the motors actuating the tumbler 11 and the fan 32, andactuating the alarm 51 through switch 43-4 which closes upon the openingof relay 43. Coil or relay 43 may also be opened at anytime manually byuse of the stop-button switch 44. A jog button 71, which is of themomentarycontact type, is connected across main conductors X and Y, asmore particularly hereinafter explained, and the manual depression ofsuch switch 71 to close the circuit will effect the reversal ofreversing motor 25 and con sequent reversal of rotation of the tumbler11 since the electrical circuit, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 7,includes conductors connectingthe contacts of jog-button switch throughthe contacts 54 and 54 of the reversing timer switch 54. As shown, thetimer switch 54 may take the form of a rotatable cam, carrying thecontacts 54' and 54" at opposite ends thereof, which is driven by timermotor 55.

The feed of natural gas or other fuel from a source of supply thereof,not shown, conveniently is made through a main feed pipe 91, the flowtherethrough being suitably controlled by a manually-operable cut-offvalve 92 which, when closed, completely shuts off fuel flow to theburner 31. As is customary a by-pass 94 establishes communicationbetween the main fuel line 91 and the pilot burner 93 which normally iskept lighted. The main fuel line 91 includes the solenoid-actuatedcut-off valve 65, as well as a conventional pressure regulator 96. Inaccordance with the present invention, I interpose in the main fuelline'91 a temperature-responsive fuel flow regulator unit, which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 97, and which comprises avalve 98 that is throttled by the expansion and contraction of mercuryin a mercury bulb element 99; the bulb 99 being carried on the free endof a flexible tube 100, see FIG. 2 of the drawings, with the bulbfixedly secured within the flue 35.

At the outset of a drying cycle for effecting a complete drying oflaundry articles, the valve 98 of regulator unit 97 is manually adjustedto a fully open position so that full fuel flow through the regulatorunit is had to the burner 31, and in this fully open position of thevalve 98 the temperature of the moisture-laden exhaust gases in thedrier flue 35 attains a value of approximately 300 F. to 310 F. At thishigh temperature, the expansion of the mercury in bulb 99 is rapid andcauses the valve 98 to move towards a closed position, thus lowering thevolume of fuel supplied to the burner 31 and, perforce, the temperatureof the heated air through the drier and in the exhaust flue 35. As aconsequence, the mercury in bulb element 99 will contract and the valve98 will tend to move toward a fully open position again. This throttlingof valve 98 will continue during the drying cycle with the valve 98having a greater tendency of moving toward a closed position with theresult that the drying temperature tends to be held to a substantiallyconstant lower value or approximately between 240 F. to 260 F. Wheneverit is desired to pro-condition a laundry load for subsequent finishingoperations, the valve 98 of the regulator unit 97 is manually adjustedto a less than fully open position so that a lesser volume of fuel issupplied to the burner 31 and, consequently, an initial temperature ofapproximately 240 F. to approximately 270 F. is attained in the exhaustflue 35 of the drier at the outset. As the mercury in the mercury bulb99 starts to expand,'the valve 98 will move towards its closed position,thus lowering the fuel supply to the burner 31 and, perforce, lower thetemperature of the heated air. The action of throttling in this type ofconditioning operation is similar to that when a load is desired to becompletely dried, but the entire conditioning operation is carried outwithin lower temperatures ranges, as indicated. Due to occasional heatsurges by reason of the exhaust gases in flue 35 randomly carryingincreased moisture driven off from the laundry articles in the tumbler11, the main circuit is caused to open and to close at somewhat frequentintervals, especially near the close of the full drying cycle or theconditioning cycle as the case may be, in response to a hunting or asensing device controlling such opening and closing of the circuit anduntil the main circuit finally is broken and remains open indicating thefinishing of the drying or of the conditioning of a given laundry load.

While any conventional temperature-responsive fuel flow regulator unitmay be employed and interposed in the fuel feed line 91, I preferablyemploy a regulator unit 97 of the type shown in FIG. 5 of the annexeddrawings which generally comprises a pair of housings 191 and 102arranged in juxtaposition and threadedly connected together, as shown.The housing 1411 is provided with openings at its opposite ends forpassing the feed line 91 and is formed with an interior valve seat 103for the ball valve 98 which is carried on the free end of a lever 104.The lever 104 extends through a common passage 105 establishingcommunication between the two housings 101 and 102 and is pivotallymounted on the end of a bracket 106 carried on a threaded adjusting rod107 which extends through one end of housing 102. Valve lever 104 isactuated by a plunger 108 surrounding the flexible tube 100 on the freeend of which the mercury bulb 99 is carried. Upon expansion of themercury in bulb 99, the plunger 108 moves upwardly to engage an innershoulder, not shown,'of a spring-loaded movable element 109 which, inturn, engages and rocks the lever 104 to cause the ball valve 98 to movetoward its seat 103 or towards a closing position. Contraction of themercury bulb 99, on the other hand, will retract the plunger 108 andalso the element 109 under the influence of its associated spring 110,permitting the lever to rock in the opposite direction and cause thevalve 98 to open.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, inclusive, the hunting or sensing device of myimproved automatic control for my improved drier includes thecombination of a switch 69 and a time-delay unit es; the latter, in thisembodiment, comprising a time-delay unit commercially available underthe trademark Amperite. The switch 69 conveniently is actuated inresponse to surges in the fluid pressure on the down-stream side of themodulator valve 98 in line 91, although other equivalent means includingmechanical actuation of such switch from an indicator arm, not shown, onthe regulator unit 97 may be employed, as desired. Switch 69 isconveniently mounted in a casing 121 which is removably secured upon anapertured case or housing 122 composed of two complementary sections 123and 124 which are removably fitted tightly together by means of aplurality of screws 126 passing through and threaded into outwardlyextending flanges 127 and 128 on such housing sections, all asparticularly illustrated in FIG. 8 of the annexed drawings. A strip 129,such as a length of spring steel, is pivotally mounted on a block orfixed member 131 secured within and to the base of such casing 121; suchmounting permitting the pivotal upward swing of the free end of thestrip 129 under the influence of a slight force to open Witch d9, theswitch being returned to its normal closed position not engaging eitherof the contacts 141 and 142 of the switch 69 under the influence or" aspring, not shown. Switch 69 may be of the spring-loaded contact type,the tilting-mercury type, or other types; the former being shown in thisembodiment.

In accordance with the present invention, I mount a flexible diaphragm132 within the housing 122 so that it is normally retained fiat orplanar therein; the diaphragm mounting conveniently being effected byforming a plurality of openings therein adjacent to its periphery topermit the passing of the screws 126 which pass through the openings,not shown, of the diaphragm and which are screwed down into the flanges12? and 128 of the housing sections 123 and 124 of the casing 121. Thediaphragm 132 carries at its center an elongated pin 133 which isrigidly fitted upon a boss 134 fixedly secured to the diaphragm 132 bymeans of a nut 135; the pin extending through aligned openings in thecasing 121 and housing 122 to bear upon the pivotally mounted strip 129.As illustrated, the lower section 124 of housing 122 is formed with avent opening 136 therein which communicates with a passage 137 openingthrough an enlarged section of the passage to the exterior of thehousing. The housing section 124 is internally threaded at the outer endof the passage 137 for removably receiving a threaded pipe fitting 133,to which is removably attached a pipe or conduit 139 establishingcommunication between gas or fuel feed pipe 91 and the interior of thehousing 122 below the diaphragm 132; the connection between conduit 139and the pipe S 1 being on the downstream side of the modulator orregulator valve unit 97, i.e., on the side thereof toward the burner 31,thus allowing under certain conditions fluid pressure to be applied tothe underside of the diaphragm 132 to raise such diaphragm and, in turn,to force pin 133 against the pivotally mounted strip 12? which, by suchraising action, engages the lever of switch 69 to throw it in oneposition and to open the contacts of such switch. Conversely, when thereis a decrease in fluid pressure on the underside of the diaphragm 332,the diaphragm flexes in the opposite direction under the Weight of theboss 134, thus retracting the pin 133 and automatically throwing theswitch 69 to another of its positions and thus closing the contactsthereof.

Included in the sensing device of the time-delay unit which comprises abi-metallic switch 61 pivotally mounted on a contact 146 and spanning aspace to engage a second contact 147, together with the resistor 63-which is mounted in close proximity to the bi-metallic switch 61. Theswitch 69 and the time-delay unit are electrically connected togetherand to the main electrical circuit by means of a lead 14-9 connectingmain conductor X through switch 43-3 to contact 141 of switch 69 and alead 150 connecting the other contact 142 of switch 69 to one side ofthe resistor 69, and a conductor 151 connecting the other side of theresistor fill to line Y. With the switch 69 positioned so that its armengages contact 142 thereof, the time-delay circuit is closed andconnected into the main electrical circuit which effects the heating ofthe resistor 69 to an extent that one member of the bimetallic switch 61expands and tends to cause the element to break engagement with thecontact 147. This action is recurrent near the end of each drying cycle.

By virtue of these connections, as well as by reason of the fact thatthe switch 69 is closed and opened recurrently near the end of eachdrying cycle in response to the increase and decrease of externalpressure applied to the underside of diaphragm 132 in housing 122 which,in turn, effects a closing and opening of the time-delay circuit, themain circuit is finally opened at the end of each drying cycle. That isto say, after a series of sensing actions during which the switch 69 andtime-delay circuit recurrently close and open due to temperatureconditions in the exhaust flue 35 of the drier, the contacts of switch61 will stay open until resistor 66 cools sufiiciently to cause thebi-metallic element again to span the contacts 146 and 147, or closeswitch 61, which is the normal position thereof as shown in FIG. 7. As aresult of the reduced flow of fuel passing valve 98 either to thepressure conduit 139 leading to diaphragm 132 or to the burner 31, andby reason of a completion of the sensing or hunting action, the mainelectrical circuit is finally broken upon opening of switch 61 whichautomatically opens switch 43-3 to close the solenoid-actuated valve 66in the fuel feed line 91; it being understood that the fuel pressure hasin the interim been throttled down to a relatively low pressure.Simultaneously with the breaking of the main circuit at switch 43-3, theaction of holding coil 43 is broken thus extinguishing burner 31,stopping the motors which actuate the tumbler and the fan 32, andclosing switch 43-4 for actuating the alarm 51, thus advising theoperator that it is safe to open the unloading door or doors 17 and 13of casing 12 which, in turn, opens switch 46. Upon receiving a secondand successive loads in the tumbler of the drier, a re-closing of thedoors of the drier casing closes the switch 46 so that upon manuallyclosing the main switch 42 again, the main electrical circuit is againenergized to close relay 43 and reopen switch 43-4 and thereafter asecond as well as successive drying cycles can be started and completed.

While any suitable electrical means may be employed for insuring theeffective reversal of tumbler driving motor 25 so that the tumbler 11 isrecurrently rotated in a clockwise and counter-clockwise directionduring drying operations, I have conveniently provided three conductors171, 172 and 173, leading from a source of volt 60 cycle alternatingcurrent and of which conductor 172 may be considered a neutral line. Asis understood by those skilled in the art, two of such conductors, sayleads 171 and 172 or lead 172 and 173, will serve to transmit electricalenergy to the tumbler drive motor 25 at a potential of 220 volts.Preferably I include in this higher voltage circuit a series ofsolenoid-actuated switches 174, 17-5, 176, 177, 178 and 179 of which theswitches 174-176 inclusive are connected to the spring-loaded shaft, notshown, of a solenoid relay 181 while the latter mentioned switches177-179 are connected to the spring-loaded shaft, not shown, of asolenoid or relay 182. When the coil of relay 181 is energized, theshaft thereof draws the switches 174-176 into engagement with theircontacts, or closes such switches. Simultaneously, the switches 177-179are opened because of the de-energization of the coil of relay 182 andthe action of the spring-loaded shaft thereof. On the other hand, whenthe coil of relay 182 is energized, the shaft thereof draws the switches177-179 to their closed positions, with a simultaneous opening of theswitches 174-176 in response to the action of the springloaded shaft ofthe relay 181, the coil of which is deenergized. As shown, the contactsof the switch 174 are connected into the 220 volt 6O cycle alternatingcurrent circuit through, the leads 171 and 171', the latter beingconnected to reversing motor 25; the contacts of switch 175 areconnected into this circuit through the conductors 172 and 172, theformer being connected to a source of supply of electrical energy andthe latter being connected to motor 25; and the contacts of switch 176are connected into this circuit through the leads 173 and 173', thelatter being connected to motor 25. Also, it is to be noted that thecontacts of switch 177 are connected into the circuit through conductors171 and 171; the contacts of switch 178 are connected into this 220 voltcircuit through leads 173 and 172'; and the contacts of the switch 179are connected into such circuit through the conductors 172 and 173'.

The energization alternately of solenoids 181 and 182, with recurrentde-energization of one of such relays, is elfected conveniently throughthe reversing timer camtype switch 54 which, as shown, is controlledfrom the timer motor 55 connected into the main circuit X-Y throughswitch 43-1, conductor 53 and conductor 55'; the contacts 54 and 54"being connected to the timer motor 55 through lead 53. Upon rotation oftimer motor 55 upon the energization of holding relay 43 which closesswitch 43-1, the contacts 54' and 54" of cam timer switch 54-alternately engage a pair of conductors 181 and 182' which areconnected, respectively, to one end of each of the coils of solenoids181 and 182. The other end of each of the coils of such relays 181 and182 are connected into the main 110 volt 60 cycle alternating currentthrough conductor 56, the latter leading from holding relay 43 which isconnected over lead 42" through starter button 42 and over lead 42,containing normally closed switches 44, 46 and 48, to main conductor X,and through a series of safety switches 45 to the other main conductorY; the switches 45 being conventional thermal over-load switches forprotecting the driving or tumbler motor 25. In addition to the foregoingcomponents, the jog-button switch 71 having a slidably mounted button 71connected thereto is connected into the circuit for effecting theactuation of tumbler driving motor 25, after the doors 17 and 18 of thedrier have been opened upon the completion of a drying cycle, thereby tospin the tumbler 11 to assist and to effect rapid unloading of the driedlaundry items from the tumbler. To this end, a sliding contact ofjog-button switch 71 is connected by an electrical conductor 70 to mainconductor X, with the stationary contacts of the switch 71 connectedacross the main circuit X--Y, upon bringing sliding contact thereof intoengagement with its station contacts upon movement of button 71'inwardly, through relay 182 and the conductors 182, 182" and conductor56 to main conductor Y.

One of the unique features of my present improvement resides in theprovision of means for permitting the unloading of laundry articles fromthe tumbler without requiring a tilting either of the tumbler 11 or ofthe casing 12; the unloading being accomplished simply by spinning thetumbler 11. It is to be understood that the tumbler,

through the action of the electrical circuit and the motor reversingswitch, continuously rotates first in one direction of rotation and thenin the opposite direction of rotation until brought to rest when thecircuit is broken and the door is open. That is to say, during a dryingcycle with the casing door or doors closed, the motor which drives thetumbler both in a clockwise and in a counterclockwise direction operatesalternately.

Upon completion of each drying cycle, therefore, the door or doors 17and 18 of the casing 12 are opened and the operator closes the circuitagain by jog-button 71 to rotate tumbler 11 and start the unloading ofthe dried laundry items. Those dried articles nearest the exterior ofthe casing will start to spill out of the tumbler and during this actionthe remainder of the laundry articles are being vigorously tumbled aboutover a plurality of bars 161 which are provided within the tumbler 11.Bars 161 are arranged in spaced relationship circumferentially about theinside of the tumbler 11 and are transversely arranged, as shown in FIG.3.. Each of the bars 161 is made to such dimensions and is so formedthat it projects normally to and for an appreciable distance above thewall 14 of the tumbler throughout a major portion of its length; eachbar 161, however, being beveled or formed with a downwardly extendingsection 162, as indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, adjacent to theexterior of the tu bler. Thus, there are varying inner diametersprovided in the tumbler 11, an over-all inner diameter from side wall toside wall, a shorter inner diameter resulting from the series of spacedtransverse bars 161 which extend outwardly from the side walls, and aseries of increasing inner diameters, from the start of the beveledsections 162 of bars 161 to the mouth of the tumbler 11. By virtue ofthese outwardly flaring transverse bars 161, at the beveled sections 162thereof, the dried laundry articles tend to slide toward the exterior ofthe tumbler as these articles are jostled about. That is to say, on thereverse spinning of tumbler 11, the laundry articles are vigorouslytumbled about over the bars 161 and through the spaces therebetween anddown the beveled sections 162 of bars 161 to effect, by reason of someslight unloading of the laundry items as the door is opened, anintertwining of the articles one with another so that those articlesnear the front or exit of the tumbler will slide down the beveled orslanted section 162 of the bars 161 and pull with them the remainder ofthe intertwined and dried items. As shown, a suitable portablereceptacle 163 is provided for placement in front of the tumbler door ordoors to receive and convey away to storage the thus discharged driedlaundry items.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded arange of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made overthe prior art.

I claim:

1. In a combination which includes a laundry drier containing an exhaustflue through which moisture-laden,

as well as hot air currents are moved and also containing a rotatabletumbler in which laundry items to be dried are tumbled about while beingsubjected to circulating hot air delivered thereto under pressure, andwhich also includes a gas burner and a blower for delivering hot airunder pressure to said tumbler, as well as including a source of supplyof gas and a supply pipe for delivering gas under pressure to saidburner, an electro-mechanical control for regulating the rotation ofsaid tumbler, as well as the circulating pressure and temperature oftransmitted heated air to said tumbler; said electro-mechanical controlcomprising a main electrical circuit containing a manually operable mainswitch for opening and closing said main circuit at will, atemperature-responsive element supported within said flue and expandingand contracting in response to the rise and fall of the temperature ofthe exhaust air in said flue, a lever controlled .valve in saidpipelinefor regulating fluid flow and pressure of fluid therein, apivotally mounted lever connected to said valve and actuated by theexpansion and contraction of said element in said flue for causing theopening and closing of said lever-controlled valve, as well as thethrottling thereof between fully opened and fully closed positions, anda sensing element responsive to the throttling of fluid pressure by saidlower-controlled valve for regulating the pressure of fluid in saidpipeline, as well as for controlling the operation of said blower forcirculating heated air through laundry items in said tumbler and theduration of rotation of said tumble; said sensing element comprising atime-delay unit connected into said main circuit, said time-delay unitconsisting of an automatically operable normally closed pivota'blymounted bi-metallic switch having its contacts connected into said maincircuit, a resistor in said main circuit and mounted in close proximityto said bi-metallic switch to effect opening thereof when said resistorattains a heated state sufficient to cause the expansion of saidbi-metallic switch and lift the same from one of its contacts, apressure-controlled switch in series with said resistor, and apressure-responsive member in communication with said pipe-linedownstream of the location of therein of said lever-controlled valve andcontrolling the opening and closing of said pressurecontrolled switchwhereby said resistor may be energized and de-energized in response tovariations in fluid pressure in said pipe-line downstream of saidlever-controlled valve.

2. A laundry drier comprising a casing having a vent permitting escapeof heated moisture-laden air, a tumbler rotatably mounted in said casingfor receiving, tumbling about and discharging successive loads of Watlaundry articles to be dried, a reversing motor for rotating saidtumbler clockwise and counter-clockwise, a source of supply of anignitable fluid, a pipe-line leading from said source and through whichignitable fluid is caused to flow, a burner in said pipe-line forburning supplied fuel, a solenoid-actuable shut-01f valve in said pipeline, a flue in communication with said vent in said casing for carryingaway moisture-laden exhaust fluid, a motor driven suction fan forcirculating heated air and fluid through laundry articles contained insaid tumbler, temperature-responsive movable means in said flue, alever-controlled valve in said pipe line, a movably mounted leverconnected to said valve and mounted in the path of saidtemperature-responsive movable means for actuation thereby to effectthrottling of fluid pressure in said pipe line, and electro-mechanicalmeans for controlling the drying cycle of the contents of said tumbler;said electro-mechanical means comprising an electrical circuitcontaining said reversing motor as well as the motor for driving saidfan and the solenoid of said solenoid-actuatable shut-off valve, amovable pressure-responsive element in communication with said pipe lineon the downstream side of said lever-controlled valve, apressure-controlled switch in said circuit actuated by the movement ofsaid pressure-responsive.

11 element, and a sensing element in said circuit responsive to theclosing and opening of said pressure-controlled switch; said sensingelement comprising a time-delay switch connected into said circuit andconsisting of a pair of electrical contacts, a oi-metallic memberpivotally mounted on one contact of said pair of contacts and normallyspanning the same to maintain said time-delay switch closed, and aresistor in close proximity to said bi-metallic member and connected insaid circuit in series with said pressure-controlled switch wherebyclosing of the latter energizes said resistor to effect heating of saidbi-metallic member to tend to cause said bi-metallic member to swing onits pivot and open said time-delay switch and whereby opening of saidpressure-controlled switch tie-energizes said resistor allowing saidbi-metallic memher to cool and to return to its normal position spanning3. A laundry drier as defined in claim 2, and a relay in said electricalcircuit, an alarm device electrically connected into said circuit, andan alarm actuating switch mechanically connected to said relay andclosed by said relay upon the termination of rotation of said tumbler toactuate said alarm device.

4. A laundry drier as defined in claim 3, and doors hingedly connectedto said casing for gaining access to said tumbler, and a door actuatedswitch in said main circuit for breaking said circuit upon the openingof said doors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,695,162 Kauttman Nov. 23, 1954 2,710,181 Parrett June 7, 19552,752,130 French June 26, 1956 2,883,174 Cobb Apr. 21, 1959 Cobb Jan. 5,1960

